Minus IQ

TAKE four, young, camera-friendly lads from north London, add some electronic, pop and indie-prog-rock influences, throw in some glitter, skinny jeans, bundles of energy and enthusiasm and you've got yourself Minus IQ.
Having seen them live on a handful of occasions, I was intrigued to find out how their raucous yet professional stage presence and sound would transfer into the studio.
I needn't have worried.
Home Cinema not only captures what their ever-growing fanbase jump around to in small venues across the country each week, but its flawless production sets them apart from any other upcoming four-piece.
Because for me, Home Cinema is not only a debut album that most bands can only dream of achieving, but one I would expect from a group who have already had the hit single, the sell-out tour, the easy groupies and the fat, pay cheque.
And if neither of these things come Minus IQ's way off the back of this debut offering, or doesn't set the industry alight with their mature and ambitious sound, then we all might as well resign ourselves the the X Factor/Britain's Got Talent winners of the world and offer a sad farewell to good music.
Minus IQ are singer Charlie Allen, drummer Jake Schogger, guitarist Michael Lane and bassist Justin Pither, and while all four are still teetering on their early twenties, their wide range of musical influences are easy to hear. Sounds reminiscent of Muse, to Nirvana and Radiohead shine through alongside the hooks of American punk.
That's not to take any originality away from them, of course. They have a unique style, that mixes infectious synths and big riffs, with powerful drums and an engaging bassline that all nicely support their frontman's sub-falsetto vocals.
The head-banging bassline that throws open Can I Be Of Service leads into a catchy, electro-pop song that should have been destined for chart success from the off, more so than the first single, Shoot First.
The title track, Home Cinema, shows maturity and a sound beyond their years, while the rolling riff of On The Rocks has a pulsating energy that makes you want to hit replay.
The bouncy harmonious sound of Ultraviolent is a far cry from the military mood of False Smiles, which takes the band in a completely different direction but shows their eclecticness and proves they're not a one-trick (or one sound) pony.

A big pat on the back to the Barnet boys for an outstanding, pulsating and fantastic debut.